As already noted, Red Wings prospect and Team Sweden forward Theodor Niederbach discussed his match penalty taken during yesterday’s Sweden-Switzerland game with HockeyNews.se, and he also spoke with Expressen’s Mats Brastedt regarding the incident:
Niederbach: “I don’t know if I’m going to play”
A match penalty in the World Junior Championship premiere vs. Switzerland.
Theodor Niederbach still doesn’t know whether he’ll be allowed to play against Austria [on Friday].
“The only thing I can do is prepare as if I’m going to play,” says the 20-year-old.
There are different ways for a player to excel during a hockey game.
The Junior Crowns’ Theodor Niederbach got a lot of attention against Switzerland for reasons he didn’t want.
With seven minutes remaining in the game, he brusquely checked an opponent into the back boards, and it was all but certain that the Swedish forward would leave the ice for good.
It was a match penalty, in other words.
By then, Rogle BK’s new acquisition had already had the time to visit the penalty box two times.
“It was unfortunate. Of course I wasn’t looking to hurt anyone,” says Niederbach at a digital press conference from Edmonton in Canada on Thursday evening, Swedish time.
Do you know whether you’ll play against Austria [on Friday at 2 PM EDT]?
“I really don’t know. Right now, nobody has a clue. The only thing I can do is prepare like I’m going to play.”
Niederbach: “Not my intention”
Niederbach also believes that he “didn’t go into the game with the intent of getting sent off.”
“There were several unfortunate situations that led to me leaving. It’s not like I’m looking to take penalties. The last one was just the icing on the cake, if you can say so.. I guess I can blame myself for being a little over-excited.”
The game against Switzerland in Rogers Place in Edmonton was played in front of only 300 spectators. The arena holds 21,000.
“You’re a bit used to it how it was during a season with a pandemic. It had been expected that there would be few people, but some Swedish fans were there anyway. However, we intend to win games regardless of whether there’s an audience or not. In addition, we know that there are many people back home in Sweden who are checking in,” says Niederbach.
The Junior Crowns’ tribute to Salming
During Wednesday came the dramatic news that hockey icon Borje Salming has been affected by the incurable muscle disease ALS.
The Junior Crowns therefore chose to play with a yellow and blue sticker on their sticks with the number 21, Salming’s jersey number.
“He was ahead of our time, but at the same time you know how much he meant to Swedish hockey. After all, he is one of the Swedes who broke through early into the NHL, and was one of the best in the league. The tribute to him in connection with the Canada Cup in 1976 showed how great he became as a Swede in Canada,” says Niederbach.
